West=On=Track
-News

Western rail project to be
announced soon

Sunday Business Post Aug
6th 2006

By Niamh Connolly

A Western Rail Corridor linking major population centres
on the western seaboard is expected to be officially
announced shortly, The Sunday Business Post has learned. The
cabinet approved the Western Rail Corridor in principal at a
meeting two weeks ago and a government announcement on the
project is expected either later this month or in early
September.

There is broad agreement among the government parties on
the phased construction of a rail corridor ultimately
linking Ennis in Co Clare to Collooney in Co Sligo.

The re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor, which is
part of the government's Transport 21 commitment, is
expected to form a key role in Fianna Fail's general
election platform over the coming months. An expert working
group headed by Jurys Doyle chief executive Pat McCann for
transport minister Martin Cullen found a strong case for the
restoration of the line which was closed 30 years ago.

The section from Ennis to Claremorris in Co Mayo will
cost euro168 million.The final section from Claremorris to
Collooney in Co Sligo would cost euro197million and would
complete a circular rail system nationally by connecting the
five largest cities outside Dublin - Waterford, Cork,
Limerick, Galway and Sligo - by rail.

The corridor is owned by the state, so no costly land
acquisition or lengthy planning process is required. A rail
link from Limerick to Ennis, which opened in 2004, surpassed
passenger projections. Supporters of the plan say the
project will open up 14 additional smaller and medium-sized
towns and their rural hinterlands to a north-south transport
corridor.

According to population projections, the west of the
country will be the second fastest growing region in terms
of population growth up to 2021, with an increase of 35 per
cent being projected.